Embraer and Uber team for new VTOL investment

Embraer and Uber are to explore the concept of an ecosystem—dubbed Uber Elevate Network—that will allow the potential development and deployment of small electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (VTOLs) for short urban commutes. The announcement was made in Dallas, Texas, in the opening session of the Uber Elevate Summit.

This preliminary partnership is a project generated by the Embraer Business Innovation Center, the new initiative based in Melbourne, Florida, with outposts in Silicon Valley and Boston, which was announced last month when the company revealed its intent to promote air transportation innovations. “We firmly believe we need to explore several new business concepts that may impact air transportation in the future,” said Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva, Embraer’s CEO. (pictured right) “This is a unique opportunity to complement the air transport knowledge of a visionary and revolutionary ground transport company. On exercising this partnership, we will be developing new technologies, new products and new business models which could generate opportunities for Embraer in the future,”
The two organisations said they share the vision that the state of transportation in congested cities is ripe for innovative solutions such as on-demand aviation.
Antonio Campello, Embraer’s vice president for corporate innovation said: “Embraer’s leadership roles in commercial and business aviation were attained through the introduction of disruptive aircraft and services, and we are confident that our DNA will add value to new concepts in urban transportation as well,” he said.
“Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 130 seats and one of Uber’s most experienced partners in this space,” said Mark Moore, Uber’s director of engineering for aviation. “Their knowledge of certifying fly-by-wire aircraft, and their confidence that they can similarly bring fly-by-wire technology affordably to these much smaller aircraft is an essential ingredient for our success,” he said.

Emirates will introduce a daily A380 service for a temporary period between Glasgow and Dubai from 16 April 2019. It will be the first time the popular double decker aircraft will operate on a scheduled basis to Scotland.